Control adjuster for hydraulic apparatus

ABSTRACT

A CONTROL ADJUSTER FOR HYDRAULIC PUMPS, VALVES AND THE LIKE FOR VARYING HYDRAULIC FLOW AND PRESSURE. THE CONTROL ADJUSTER IS PROVIDED WITH A MODULAR ATTACHMENT IN THE FORM OF A CALIBRATION CASING THAT PROVIDES LINEAR VERNIER READOUT FOR PRECISELY SETTING THE CONTROL KNOB. THE CONTROL ADJUSTER IS FURTHER CHARACTERIZED WITH A REMOVABLE SECURITY CASING ADAPTED TO BE RETAINED BY A LOCK TO PREVENT PROMISCUOUS ADJUSTMENT BY UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL.

United States Patent lnventor Robert E. Raymond Zanesville, Ohio Appl. No. 863,235

Filed Oct. 2, 1969 Patented June 28, 1971 Assignee International Basic Economy Corporation New York, NY.

CONTROL ADJUSTER FOR HYDRAULIC APPARATUS 6 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

Int. Cl Fl6k 37/00 Field of Search 137/556, 625.69

[56] 4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,517,562 8/1950 Hanson l37/55 lX Primary Examiner- Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Schmieding and Fultz ABSTRACT: A control adjuster for hydraulic pumps, valves and the like for varying hydraulic flow and pressure. The control adjuster is provided with a modular attachment in the form of a calibration casing that provides linear vernier readout for precisely setting the control knob. The control adjuster is further characterized with a removable security casing adapted to be retained by a lock to prevent promiscuous adjustment by unauthorized personnel.

PATENTEU JUN28 19m SHEET 2 OF 4 [N VENTOR.

, ROBERT E. RAYMOND A TTZRNEYS CONTROL ADJUSTER FOR HYDRAULIC APPARATUS This invention relates to control adjusters for hydraulic apparatus such as pumps, valves, and the like, which adjusters function to vary circuit characteristics, such as flow and pressure.

In general, the control adjuster of the present invention comprises a basic or standard control apparatus, including a rotary control knob, that is adapted to perform all significant functions and options of adjustment required for control valves, pumps and the like. Such basic adjuster is also structurally adapted in a unique manner to optionally incorporate various novel features for a device of this type.

As one aspect of the present invention, the basic control adjuster apparatus is provided with a modular attachment in the form of a calibration casing which is mounted on the basic control adjuster housing, and a detachably mounted extension, or calibration head, which cooperates with the calibration casing to provide linear vernier readout for precisely setting the control knob.

As another aspect, the basic control adjuster is provided with a modular attachment in the form of a cylindrical security casing which is slipped over the above-mentioned control knob and adapted to be removably secured thereon by a conventional padlock to prevent promiscuous adjustment by unauthorized personnel.

As still another aspect of the present invention, control adjuster can be provided with a composite module merely be first mounting the above-mentioned calibration casing on the standard control adjuster with the above-mentioned calibration head being mounted on the control knob, and by then mounting the above-mentioned security casing in surrounded relationship with the calibration casing. With this composite module embodiment the control adjuster of the present invention can be readily provided with the vernier calibration readout as well as the security locking feature.

As another aspect of the present invention, the above-mentioned basic control adjuster can be selectively used, in an alternate way, with the control knob removed whereby a tool is required before adjustments can be made. In such instances the above-mentioned security casing is normally mounted on the basic adjuster and must be removed to permit access to a standard control locking nut that requires a wrench to be loosened.

As another aspect of the present invention, the basic control adjuster, when used with the above-mentioned calibration casing and calibration head, includes a novel structural arrangement for setting the zero" of the indicia on the readout scale to calibrate same with any desired setting of the control knob of the apparatus.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel control adjuster that consists of a basic adjuster apparatus which can be utilized either alone or with a plurality of modular accessories so as to selectively provide various control functions as may be desired for various control applications.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a control adjuster of the type described that is adapted for use with a vernier readout module.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a control adjuster of the type described that is adapted for use with a security casing module that precludes promiscuous tampering with the control setting.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a control adjuster of the type described that is adapted for use with a composite control module that provides both vernier readout information as well as the security lock feature.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred forms of embodiments of the invention are clearly shown.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top elevational view of abasic control adjuster constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the control adjuster of FIG.

l, the section being taken along a vertical plane through the centerline of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the basic control adjuster of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top elevational view of the apparatus of the preceding figures showing a composite module mounted thereon;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4 with the section being taken along a vertical plane through the centerline of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a range tape and vernier tape comprising portions of the apparatus of the preceding figures;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing the control adjuster with only the calibration casing module mounted thereon;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the control adjuster with only the security casing mounted thereon;

FIG. 9 is a partial side sectional view showing the embodiment of FIG. 7 with a zero" adjusting apparatus being utilized therewith; and 1 FIGS. 10 and 11 are top and end elevational view of the control adjuster of FIG. 1 with only the calibration casing mounted thereon with the security casing removed.

Referring in detail to the drawings a basic control adjuster constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 and is shown mounted on a typical control valve that includes a valve housing indicated generally at 20. A plurality of mounting screws 21 are provided for attaching valve housing 20 to a hydraulic apparatus to be controlled. A spool housing 54 is mounted within the valve housing 20 and includes a bore in which is shiftably mounted a control spool 56 for controlling the flow between a plurality of ports 23.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, a control adjuster housing means 22 includes'an inner portion mounted in a bore in main housing 20 at a threaded junction 50. A control bias spring 42 is positioned in a bore in adjuster housing means 22 with the end of said spring being in forced transmitting engagement with the right end of spool 56 by means of a spring retainer 44, ball 46, and spool engaging element 52, said elements 44, 46 and 52 providing a self-aligning forced transmitting means from spring 42 to spool 56.

Referring again to adjuster housing 22, FIG. 2, a control rod 30 includes a central threaded portion 28 mounted in a threaded hole 29 provided in the outer portion of adjuster housing means 22. Axial movement of such rod 30 is transmitted to the previously mentioned control means 42 by an inner rod end 36, provided with a seal, ball 38 and spring retainer 40.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1 through 3, the outer threaded portion 28 of control rod 30 carries a locking ring 24 which can be screwed axially along threaded rod portion 28 into locking engagement with the right end portion of adjuster housing means 22.

The above-mentioned locking ring 24 is formed of nylon or the like and interference at the threaded junction 28 is such that locking means 24 snugly grips rod 30.

A manual control knob 26 is mounted on the outer end of control rod 30 and is keyed thereto by a set screw 34 that engages a flat 32.

Reference is next made to FIGS. 4 and 5 which illustrate the basic control adjuster with a composite module mounted thereon and includes a calibration casing 98 in the form of a cylindrical member having an annular inner end that slips over an annular shoulder of a locking collar indicated generally at 62. As seen in FIG. 5, collar 62 is mounted on adjuster casing means 22 by a set screw 71 with a left end of calibration casing 98 overlying this set screw 71 so as to prevent access thereto.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the composite module further includes a security casing indicated generally at 66, which is slipped over the previously mentioned calibration casing 98 and includes a flange 80 provided with a lock shank receiving hole that registers with a similar hole through a flange 82 on locking collar 62.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, an ordinary padlock 84, with its shank 86 extended through the aligned holes in the flanges, provides a simple means of securely locking security casing 66 in position on the device.

As seen in FIG. 4, such security casing 66 is provided with a window adjacent its outer end to permit visual inspection of underlying tapes 70 and 72 which are provided with indicia for linear vernier readout.

With continued reference to calibration casing 98, this device is used in combination with a calibration head 91, FIGS. 5 and 7, with a range tape, indicated at 72 in FIG. 6, being mounted on the outer surface of calibration head 91 to provide rotatable indicia. An aperture 17 in the side of calibration casing 98 permits the operator to view the indicia on range tape 72.

With continued reference to FIGS. 4 through 7, calibration head 91 is mounted for selective rotary adjustment on control knob 26 at engaging tapered surfaces by a central mounting screw 90 that passes freely through a bore 92 in calibration head 91 with said screw having its inner end in threaded engagement with a threaded hole in control knob 26 at the threaded junction 94. It will now be understood that calibration head 91, and range tape 72 mounted thereon, can be rotated to various angles of adjustment with respect to any preselected setting for control knob 26.

Also calibration head 91, range tape 72 mounted thereon, and control knob 26 can all be axially shifted to position the indicia thereon, with respect to zero of stationary indicia on tape 70, and locked in place at any desired setting of control rod means 30. The control knob 26 is locked in place, when set as desired, by the previously mentioned screw 34, FIG. 5.

Reference is next made to FIG. 9 which illustrates means for setting the zero" of range tape 72 for any desired setting of control knob 26. Such zero" setting means includes an insert pin 110 the shank of which can be inserted through a small hole 112 in the end of calibration casing 98 and then into a bore 1 14 in the outer wall of calibration head 91. A larger central hole 116 is provided in the center of the outer end of calibration casing 98 to provide access for a tool to reach the previously mentioned mounting screw 90.

With continued reference to FIG. 9, it should be mentioned that when range tape 72, FIG. 6, is mounted on calibration head 91 it is necessary to mount such tape with the zero" thereon radially aligned with the eccentrically positioned small hole 114.

It will now be understood that when it is desired to change the zero" adjustment appearing on the indicia of scales 72 it is merely necessary to position insert pin 110 through hole 1 l2 and into hole 114 so as to retain the zero" on range table 72 centered in the windows. This prevents rotation of calibration head 91 while a tool is inserted through central hole 116 in the end of calibration casing 98 and used to loosen or tighten mounting screw 90. Pin 110 also prevents the movement of zero" while knob 26 is adjusted with mounting screw loosened.

Control knob 26 can next be manually grasped by placing the thumb and fingers at the open areas 75 and 76, FIG. 4, provided on either side of longitudinally top web 73. After control knob 26 has been moved to a new desired setting, the tool is again inserted into center hole 116 in the end of calibration casing 98 and control head 91 is tightened down into rigid mounted engagement with control knob 26. Insert pin can then be removed from holes 1 l2 and 1 14.

Reference is made to FIG. 8 which shows the basic control adjuster being used with the previously described control knob 26 removed and with a conventional hex lock nut 102 replacing the previousl described locking rin means 24. In this embodiment only e security casing mo ule 66 is being utilized to provide the locking function with padlock 84 and it will be noted that in this embodiment a ring 104 is slipped over the annular shoulder on locking collar 62 with the left end of security casing 66 being in abutting relationship with ring 104 and with such ring covering the set screw 71 to prevent access thereto.

I claim:

1. A control adjuster comprising, in combination, housing means; rod means rotatably mounted in said housing means and including a knob portion and an outer cylindrical portion provided with rotatable indicia; calibration casing means including an inner end mounted on the housing means and a central portion provided with an access aperture, and an outer cage portion provided with a stationary indicia overlying said rotatable indicia.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 that includes a friction locking means for said rod means.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 that includes a cylindrical security casing removably mountable on said housing means.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said security casing includes a window overlying said indicia.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said calibration casing means is removably mounted on said housing means.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said cylinder portion can be axially and. radially indexed with respect to said rod means. 

